Part 5
The Long Trail
Itwasintheair. WhiteFangsensedthecomingcalamity,evenbeforetherewastangibleevidenceofit. Invaguewaysitwasborneinuponhimthatachangewasimpending. Heknewnothownorwhy,yethegothisfeeloftheoncomingeventfromthegodsthemselves. Inwayssubtlerthantheyknew,theybetrayedtheirintentionstothewolf-dogthathauntedthecabin-stoop,andthat,thoughhenevercameinsidethecabin,knewwhatwentoninsidetheirbrains.
"Listentothat,willyou!"thedug-musherexclaimedatsupperonenight.
WeedonScottlistened. Throughthedoorcamealow,anxiouswhine,likeasobbingunderthebreaththathadjustgrownaudible. Thencamethelongsniff,asWhiteFangreassuredhimselfthathisgodwasstillinsideandhadnotyettakenhimselfoffinmysteriousandsolitaryflight.
"Idobelievethatwolf’sontoyou,"thedog-mushersaid.
WeedonScottlookedacrossathiscompanionwitheyesthatalmostpleaded,thoughthiswasgiventheliebyhiswords.
"WhatthedevilcanIdowithawolfinCalifornia?"hedemanded.
"That’swhatIsay,"Mattanswered. "WhatthedevilcanyoudowithawolfinCalifornia?"
ButthisdidnotsatisfyWeedonScott. Theotherseemedtobejudginghiminanon-committalsortofway.
"Whiteman’sdogswouldhavenoshowagainsthim,"Scottwenton. "He’dkillthemonsight. Ifhedidn’tbankruptmewithdamagedsuits,theauthoritieswouldtakehimawayfrommeandelectrocutehim."
